Washboard



(N0 Model) W. H. WILLIS. WAsHBoARD No. 582,566. Patented May`11, 1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM H. VILLIS, OE NEVARK, NEV JERSEY.

wAsHBoARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 582,566, dated May 11, 1897'.

Application led August 22, 1896. Serial No. 603,569. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. WILLIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vashboard-Holders, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in washboard-holders, and has for its object to provide a device of this description by means of which a washboard may be held within a tub 4of any depth without liability of said board riding upward when work is being performed thereon.

Vith these ends in view my invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, I will describe its construction and operation in detail, referring by letter to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which-V Figure l is a central section of a tub and a washboard placed therein having my improvement attached thereto; and Fig. 2, aperspective of a washboard, showing the proper relation between my improvement and said board.

In carrying out my invention a washboard A of any ordinary construction is provided and a yoke B pivoted thereto at C, and this yoke is preferably made of metal and has formed therewith the toes D, which in practice project forward and bear upon the bottom of the tub, as clearly shown in Eig. l, and also in contact with the side of the tub. From the center of the yoke an arm E projects rearward and is of such a length as to come in contact with the inner wall of the tub when the lower ends of the side rails of the washboard are in their proper position upon the bottom of said tub. The arm is here shown as secured to the yoke by a screw formed with said yoke being threaded into the inner end of said arm, which latter is of wood. By this arrangement it will be seen that when a Washboard which is provided with my improvement is placed within a tub it will rest upon the upper edge thereof in the ordinary'manner, the toes bearing upon the bottom and projecting into contact with the inner wall of the tub, and these toes are firmly held in such contact by the engagement of the outer end of the arm with the wall of the tub, and, if desired, a notch G may be formed in said wall, so that this end of the arm may be forced into said notch, thereby securely holding the yoke, and consequently the washboard, in position, and any tendency given thereto to ride upward by work performed upon its surface will be overcome.` Thus washing may be performed with ease and facility without the heretofore annoying movements of the board.

One of the advantages of my improvement is that its construction is very simple and its application to a board is quickly accomplished, in that small pins or screws may be passed through the lower ends of the side rails of the board and driven into the yoke, by which means any ordinary washboard may be fitted.

In practice the arm E may be attached to the yoke by a suitable slip-joint E, in which case arms of greater or less length may be substituted, so as to adapt the yoke for use in connection with tubs of varying diameters, or, if desired, the end of the outer portion of the arm may be jointed.

Having thus fully described my' invention, what I claim as new and useful isl. In combination with awashboard, a yoke adapted to be pivoted thereto, two toes formed with said yoke adapted to bear against the bottom of the tub, an arm projecting rearward from said yoke for engagement with the wall of the tub, and a slip-joint connecting the arm to the yoke, substantially as shown and described.

2. The herein-described combination of the washboard A, the yoke B pivoted thereto, toes D formed upon said yoke, and an arm E projecting rearward from said yoke, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

IVM. H. \VILLIS.

W'itnesses:

S.. S. WILLIAMSON, L. C. MORRISON. 

